Holly and Jolly

To say that I ADORE Christmastime with all of my heart would be an understatement...

Living in New Orleans has only served to magnify the joy I feel at this time of year! Sure, it's still seventy degrees most days, but it's basically the most gorgeous Christmas decor I've ever seen...




Yeah. It's pretty nice to drive to work and look at these things.

Thanksgiving in Nashville was absolutely wonderful...I had not been home since July (which is sad), and it was such a sweet time with family and friends. We have a lot going on this month (so original, I know!) and are trying to savor this possible last holiday season in New Orleans. The Herring Annual Tacky Christmas party is next week, which is always nice and scandalous, so photos may be limited! We also have work parties, birthday parties, and my family in town next weekend for my brother's 21st birthday...we may go to Pat O's as a family. We are just classy like that! Hope everyone is having a merry month thus far!

Ohh Life...

It is good.

Warren is in Argentina with Tulane (which is not so good for me, but happy for him!) and I am trucking along at school. Anyone who works at or even closely to a school knows how the football games, tutoring sessions, book fairs and birthday parties make you feel as though you never leave work, but I am beyond thankful to finally feel a part of the community. There is just something comforting about seeing people you know at the gas station or on a run, regardless of it being a six year old. Newman has truly saved me down here; yes, I'm cheesy.

Thanksgiving really cannot come fast enough - I realized this week that I have not been home to Nashville since JULY. This is sad...but things have been very busy down in Louisiana and I have been blessed to see some dear friends over the past month. This weekend I am making the trek to Jackson for my sweet niece Julia's first birthday, and spending some time with Warren's family. On Sunday evening Warren will fly back into town and we have a full November with showers and the holidays coming up! I am fighting the urge to decorate for Christmas; we are gone so often that I want our house to feel Christmas-y for a longer period of time!

It is so hard to believe that this year is winding down. It seems that as soon as we get settled into life in New Orleans, it will be time to pick up again. Warren's graduation will be here before we know it and we will have to make those "big decisions" about where to settle for the next few years/ oh, maybe forever! I am thankful that God has taken care of us during this season and that He has given us the mercy and grace to navigate this unfamiliar territory. While I certainly have a preference about where we might end up, I know now, in new and incredible ways, that we can be happy anywhere. This is something I had doubts about two years ago!

And BTW....Who dat???? Can I just say I'm enjoying living in Saints-land during this dry desert Titans season.

Really?

Sometimes I wonder what God is thinking. (Is that terrible to say?)

Why, for example, is it either 100 degrees(in OCTOBER) or TORRENTIALLY raining in New Orleans?

Why do my husband and I have completely different schedules, where we literally resort to leaving notes on pillows in order to communicate?

Why does it feel like I am the only person on earth who does not live near their family?

Why, oh WHY is it so difficult for children to know the difference between upper and lower case letters??

It has been one of those weeks. If anyone has access to a private plane, on which I could escape the tropical weather and feel connected to anything resembling home, send it to NOLA. I'll do just about anything.

I just needed to say that out loud. Admitting the problem is the first step, right? Warren is out of town for work this weekend so I think I'll get a pedi and shop for Christmas decorations tomorrow - this will certainly get me out of this funk.

"That Dress is BANANAS!"

Does anyone else love Rachel Zoe? I mean, yes, she has a moderate/serious eating issue...and we are in a bit of a recession...and yeah, I can't afford anything she is peddling...but I just adore "The Rachel Zoe Project"! Rachy Rach was on Regis and Kelly this week going through the top ten trends of this fall, and I am proud to say I own a few already! Sure, they are Forever 21 and J.Crew, not Chanel, but I suppose it is all relative when you hang out with six year olds most of your day. Here we go:

1. The Biker Jacket - I am not sure about this one. My style leans a little on the preppy/safe side, so I will probably just watch from afar. Or wait for Lilly Pulitzer to make a bright green one.
2. The Over-the-Knee Boot - I mean..are we Julia Roberts circa 1990? Not sure I can rock this one either.
3. Studded/Statement Bag - This one, I like. I can do a crazy bag any day of the week. Love a big, bold handbag!
4. The "Boyfriend" Jeans - Let's be honest...I can basically wear my husband's pants. Rachel Zoe, I am not...this will be a cheap aquisition.
5. Tuxedo Jacket - Yes please! I love a blazer, jacket, anything with skinny jeans and flats. Everyone could do this one, I think...
6. Leggings - So ahead of the game! I love leggings. Rach showed some leather ones on tv, and that is a little much for sub-tropical New Orleans, but we'll see. Warren thought they were kind of hot. Ha...
7. Statement Necklace - Done and done. Necklaces make jeans and a plain T so perfect. I'm loving all the J.Crew ones right now!
8. Trench Coat - Love, love, love a trench coat! Everyone should own one, so classic.
9. Belts - Any and all, Rachel says. BTW, I know everyone remembers the days when we got one yard (okay, two for me) of ribbon from Smith's Variety and wore them as belts. Samford is so posh!
10. The Cape - Gotta have it. Kelly tried on the CUTEST cape that Rachel brought and I am now obsessed. It is possibly practical for a New Orleans winter as well, since it does not get super cold. Very sold on this one.

So that is my fashion recap, via Rachel Zoe! I am SO ready for fall and cooler weather! And now, the student quote of the week...

"I fished on Labor Day with my grandpa! He always says,'Grandpa's here! Bring me my beer!"

Yom Kippur, Where Art Thou?

Things that happen when you work at an independent school in New Orleans...you get out of school for all sorts of fabulous reasons. My favorite is of course the full week of Mardi Gras - nothing better. I am currently, however, counting down to the Jewish day of Yom Kippur. I have no clue about its signficance (thanks to the "well-rounded" education of Brentwood Academy and Samford, ha...), but I'm pumped. Warren and I are heading to the Ham for the three-day weekend, and I am seriously counting down the days!

School is going "swimmingly" in the Fish Class...I will post pictures of my room soon. Teaching these kids has seriously made living in New Orleans the best experience of my life. I love going to the grocery store and getting tackled in the produce section by six year olds. I love that I eat lunch with people whose biggest worry is whether the Jonas Brothers are coming on tour to New Orleans. I especially love that I can actually see my work paying off on a daily basis. Watching a child "get it" is amazing. I am so privileged to educate these kids.

That being said...I have a few quotes for you to enjoy:)

1. "Mrs. Herring, did they put you in the Fish Class because your name is Herring?"
2. "I celebrate Hanukkah. But I totally think Jesus was cool too."
3. "When I do my work, sometimes I look on other people's papers and write down their answers. But that's only when I don't have the answer."
4. "Will the swine flu turn me into a pig, for real?"

And my personal favorite...

5. "Mrs. Herring, are you pregnant? Because you're gaining some weight."

Oooohhh the joys!

Thankful.

I am very blessed.

Warren and I recently celebrated two years of marriage, and I am amazed when I look back over these precious first years. Words could never describe how much I love and respect my husband, and how humbled I am to be his wife! Warren was sweet enough to take me to the Alluvian, a spa and hotel in Mississippi for our anniversary weekend. It was wonderful (SUCH good food!) and so relaxing.

I am back in New Orleans preparing for the school year to begin, and Warren is in Philadelphia until Sunday. Life has been insane for the past year...we have lived in three different states, visited new countries, and been through some very hard days that have made me understand that whole "for better or worse" issue.

I love this song by Patty Griffin...it has always made me think of Warren, even when we were just dating. I'm so thankful...


"I don't know nothing except change will come
Year after year what we do is undone
Time keeps moving from a crawl to a run
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home

You're out there walking down a highway
And all of the signs got blown away
Sometimes you wonder if you're walking in the wrong direction

But if you break down
I'll drive out and find you
If you forget my love
I'll try to remind you
And stay by you when it don't come easy..."

So...

Yet again, I win the award for Queen of the Worst Blogging...apologies, apologies to my 1-3 readers! We have been INSANELY busy and nomadic since mid-March (!) when I last wrote. Hopefully this suffices for an excuse:
March 15-18: Nashville
March 22-April 4: Paris and Italy
April 8-10: Phoenix for Easter
April 17-19: Nashville for Mary Atchley's beautiful wedding!
April 24-26: Birmingham for showers
May 1-3: Jackson for Warren and his dad's birthdays
May 8-10: Warren in exams/ packing for his summer internship in Jackson
May 16: wedding
May 22-26: Workshops and room organization at school (btw, I am teaching first and third grade next year at Newman!)
May 27: I moved to Jackson to meet Warren (he has a commercial real estate internship this summer / MY Birthday celebration with Warren's family for my 25th....scary...
May 28th: My birthday in Nashville
May 29-June 1: Flew to Chicago with Brittany Fancher Faison, Mary Wallace, Katie B., Allie and Emmy Duncan for the best girls' weekend ever!
June 12-21: In Nashville for Warren's CCIM class (commercial real estate investment)/ weddings/ showers/ Aubrey's birthday/family time!
June 20-29: Beach with Warren's family
July 4: Fireworks and such in Jackson.

Whew...

I am certainly not suggesting our life is difficult, but I am definitely suggesting that I live out of a bag. It's sort of strange. I don't think I could put all of these pictures up if I tried, so just check Facebook! They are mostly there!

We are living with Warren's brother Kenneth and my sister-in-law Brooks for the summer, with my favorite babies, Harper and Julia. They have a hotel suite-worthy garage apartment that is honestly much nicer than the NOLA pad, so we are happy to be here:).

We have been having a wonderful, albeit INSANELY BUSY summer! We are heading to Nashville this weekend for a wedding, and then to Memphis next weekend to see my sister's new apartment and celebrate my Nana's birthday! My sister has a wonderful new job at St. Jude's as a pediatric oncology nurse. I am so proud of her and think she should write a blog too. Take note, Sees.

I'll put up some pictures soon of our summer thus far. Warren and I cannot believe we will be celebrating our TWO year anniversary this month! We have been so blessed in our marriage and I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else. I am so excited about our next year in New Orleans. It has been the most incredible experience to move away and grow in our marriage and I am infinitely thankful that we ended up there.